www.famillesracette.org

Association
Des Familles Rasset

The price of the meal is 20
dollars for adults, 10 dollars for children under 12 years.
Children under 3 years old will eat free. Those interrested in
participating in this meal are kindly requested to reserve their
place as soon as possible with the secretary-treasurer of the
Association at 450-682-3520 or by email at racettec@colba.net.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
September 24, 2017

L'Assomption

It is with pleasure that I present to you the review of this past
year's activities of the Association.

Before I go any further, I would like to thank my colleagues on the
board for their work and support over the past year. I want to
emphasize the departure of Lise St-André who informed us of her
decision to leave the board but will remain as a member of the
Association. Thank you Lise for your excellent work.

ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

First of all, on August 13, 2016, we held our 11th biannual
gathering in Saint-Jacques in the Lanaudière region as part of the
Fêtes Gourmandes de Lanaudière. Nearly forty members participated.

It was also during this meeting that I gladly agreed to become the
president of the association for two years. I thank you again for
your support and you confidence.

Focus-Group

The Board of Directors subsequently decided to hold a reunion on
Saturday, October 22, 2016 in Repentigny to review the Association's
outlook for the coming years. The results of this day will guide the
actions of the council during my mandate.

Promotion 25 years (summary)

The year 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the
Rasset Family Association. The board decided to promote it with a
distinctive logo and benefits when renewing membership.

On this subject, I would like to inform you that this promotion
proved to be a great success as all members minus one whose
membership expired renewed for two years. Our target for 201 7 is
125 members. I invite you to promote this offer and to register new
members to achieve our goal.

Membership to the Fédération Histoire du Québec

Since its foundation, the Rasset Family Association was a member of
the Fédération des familles souches du Québec (FFSQ), later the
Fédération des associations de famille du Québec (FAFQ). The
Fédération provided member associations with a range of services
ranging from affordable liability insurance to web hosting, printing
and storage services.

In recent years, the Government of Quebec, the Fédération's
principal donor, has considerably reduced the amount it paid to the
Fédération. The situation has become so critical that FAFQ dismissed
its four employees and terminated several of its services a few
months ago.

In addition, it will no longer directly support member associations
as it did before, but simply refer them to resource persons. In
short, the FAFQ becomes a voice rather than an actor.

It is for these reasons that the members of the council of the
Association of Rasset families decided to join the Fédération
Histoire Québec. This organization, founded in 1965, formerly known
as the Fédération des sociétés d'histoire du Québec, has over 266
associations representing more than forty thousand people.

Board meeting / dates

During the past year, the board of directors met three times,
January 14, June 4 and September 17. Another meeting is scheduled
for the end of the year.

Bulletins / release date

As for the bulletin, it has been published six times, December 2016,
January 2017, February / March 2017, April / May 2017, June / July
2017 and the last will be December 2017 / January 2018. Thank to
Sylvain Racette for the editorial staff and to Lise St-André and
Claude Racette for their work in preparing and sending the
bulletins.

Website / Facebook

Projects 2018 (Park bench / Publication directory)

Two projects are still scheduled for the next year: the purchase of
a Rasset park bench in Saint-Jacques and the publication of a Rasset
repertoire in Quebec.

Park bench

In Saint-Jacques, there is a memorial park of certain families. The
Parc des Cultures consist of the creation of thematic spaces. In
order to furnish the Parc des Cultures, a bench installation project
is underway. The benches made by local craftsmen are financed by the
family, its origin (Acadian, Quebecois or others) and the date of
arrival of this family in New Acadia. Fifteen (15) benches are
already installed and fifteen (15) others art to be planned for the
coming years. Eventually, each family having a bench will be able to
put genealogical information, if it wishes, on the website of the
Municipality of Saint-Jacques.

Publication of a Rasset Directory in Québec

The publication of a repertory of baptisms, marriages and burials of
the Rassets in Quebec is piloted by Sylvain Racette as will as Lise
Saint-André and Claude Racette.

AGA 2018 / place

Finally, during its last board meeting, the members of the board
decided to hold the next major gathering in the Mauricie region.
More details will be given to you on the website / Facebook and the
news letter of the association.

That's basically my report. Thank you for your attention.

Michel Racette, President

Welcome to the Rasset Family
Association website

In 1664, the French
carpenter Jean Rasset landed in America. He is one of the 5,000 bold
and tenacious pioneers who, through their work and perseverance,
have enabled the settlement of a French-speaking nation on the
continent. Three and a half centuries later, thousands of Quebecers,
Canadians and Americans proudly stand among his descendants and
continue to spread his surname in its various forms.

We also invite you
to take a few minutes to visit our new website. You will discover a
wealth of information about the first generation of Racettes and our
family association active since 1992. In our new PUBLICATIONS
section, you will find a brief summary of all articles published in
our newsletter for the past 20 years. Do not hesitate to order the
issues you want. And come back regularly. We will add content
throughout the year.

We hope to see you
at our next meeting.

LOGO AND PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

To celebrate the
Association's 25th anniversary, the Board of Directors is setting up
a unique promotional campaign this year to thank its members and
stimulate recruitment.
Initially, all members who renew their membership for 2 years
will receive a discount of $5. Instead of $40, they will pay $35.
This discount will also be offered to anyone who becomes a member of
the association this year for two years.
In a second phase, the association is re-launching its
sponsorship program. New members will benefit from a discount on
their next renewal: a 25% ($5) discount for a new member, a 50%
($10) discount for two new members, and a free membership for one
year for three new members recruited. A new member shall mean any
person who has never been a member or has not been a member for more
than three years.
In a third step, a 25% discount on the price of all promotional
items still in stock purchased during the year. This promotion will
last until the end of the year 2017 or until out of stocks.
The board also adopted a logo on the anniversary of the
association. This logo, prepared by the administrator Lise St-André,
represents the Association's coat of arms surrounded by a crown of
bronze laurels. The number 25e appears at the top of the crown,
while the years 1992-2017 appear under the coat of arms. This logo
will now decorate all official documents of the association.

THE ASSOCIATION HAS JOINEDTHE FÉDÉRATION HISTOIRE QUÉBEC

On January 14, 2017,
the members of the Board of Directors unanimously adopted a
resolution to join the Fédération Histoire Québec. Founded in 1965,
formerly known as the Federation of Quebec History Societies, it has
more than 266 associations representing more than forty thousand
people.
Since its founding, the Rasset Family Association was a member
of the Federation of Quebec Family Associations (FFSQ), which later
became the Federation of Family Associations of Quebec (FAFQ). The
Federation provided member associations with a range of services
ranging from affordable liability insurance to web hosting, printing
and storage services.
In recent years, the Government of Quebec, the Federation's
principal donor, has considerably reduced the amount it has paid.
The situation has become so critical that the FAFQ has dismissed its
four employees and terminated several of its services a few months
ago.
In a letter sent to member associations on November 30, 2016,
the president of the Federation, Claude Trudel, said that it was
necessary to "redefine the role of the FAFQ". "The vision for the
future" he proposes, is to make the Federation "a privileged
interlocutor with the governmental bodies and other organizations or
companies interested in the family heritage and its enhancement". In
addition, it will no longer directly support member associations as
it did before, but simply direct them to resource persons. In short,
the FAFQ becomes a voice rather than an actor.
It is for these reasons that members of the council of the
Association des familles Rasset have decided to join the Fédération
Histoire Québec.